Comedian
A comedian (also comedienne, female) is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting the fool, as in Slapstick, or employing prop comedy.
A comedian who stands and addresses an audience directly is called a stand-up comedian.
Since the mid-1980s, a new wave of comedy, called Alternative comedy, has been gaining popularity and delighting audiences with its offbeat style. This normally involves more experiential, or observational, reporting to get a laugh.